The Male prodigy(Slow updates)

Chapter 18: First kiss

After the disastrous competition, Abby was nowhere to be found. She had left the worried moms and their daughters backstage, with no explanation or even a pep talk. Maddie's freezing on stage during her solo was an unexpected turn, but losing the group number to Candy Apple's was the last straw for Abby.

The next week, at the dance studio, everyone was on edge. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension as they awaited Abby's return. As they stood in formation for pyramid announcements, Maddie bit her lip nervously. The fallout from the competition still weighed heavily on her mind.

To everyone's surprise, Abby started tearing up while announcing the second tier of the pyramid this week. "Maddie," she said, voice cracking slightly, "you are second on the pyramid. I know you're strong enough to come back from this." Maddie breathed a sigh of relief - perhaps this meant Abby had forgiven her.

The top of the pyramid showcased Ethan's smiling face. He had managed to secure a victory in another category during that fateful competition. Abby praised him for his performance and then dropped another bombshell - Ethan and Maddie were going to perform a duet.

Everyone gasped at this move, considering what had occurred just last week. However, Maddie couldn't help but feel excited about this opportunity. She secretly harbored a crush on Ethan and knew that this duet would bring them closer together.

Brooke stood alongside her sister Paige and couldn't hide her disappointment as she watched Ethan and Maddie discussing their duet enthusiastically. Brooke also fancied Ethan and longed for a chance to dance with him herself someday soon.

Amidst all this drama, Chloe received some good news of her own - Abby had awarded her the only solo that week. Chloe knew that she had much to prove following last week's events. As she and her mother glanced at each other, they knew how crucial this performance would be for Chloe's future at the dance studio and for her confidence.

1 hour later

Abby paced across the dance studio, her eyes scanning the room to watch Ethan and Maddie practice their newly assigned duet. The music played softly in the background as they moved gracefully across the floor, their dancing in perfect sync with one another. Abby felt a small flutter of excitement as she realized that very soon, her finest male and female dancers would share an intimate moment on stage.

As the choreography manifested a short break, Abby interrupted their practice session with an important announcement. "Alright, you two. There's something else you need to know about this routine." With a hesitant smile, Abby continued, "At this specific point, you'll have to... kiss."

Ethan's face turned beet red, and Maddie seemed equally taken aback. Abby caught the glimmer of joy in her own reflection; she couldn't help feeling secretly pleased by the prospect of such a tender exchange between her two talented dancers.

As they continued practicing from where they left off, Ethan's movements became noticeably more awkward. When they approached the crucial moment - their first kiss - he hesitated. He suddenly pulled away from Maddie, unable to go further.

"I'm sorry," Ethan blurted out before pausing for a second to gather his words. "Maddie... I can't do this. It's not because I don't want to give my best for our performance or anything like that. The truth is... I like someone else."

The look of heartbreak washed over Maddie's face as fat tears began rolling down her cheeks uncontrollably. Her breathing became labored, and she whispered in between sobs, "I... I need a moment." Maddie ran off towards the bathroom before anyone could react.

Left alone with Abby in the dance studio, Ethan stood completely unsure of what to do next. As his dance teacher reexamined the situation, she felt a pang of guilt for her earlier excitement. For the first time, Abby had seen the devastating consequences of combining personal emotions with professional aspirations-something that could shatter not only hearts but also the magic of their duet on stage.

Rehearsing the duet.

Maddie's eyes were red and puffy as she re-entered the rehearsal room, having just cried her heart out. The tension between her and Ethan was palpable, but she returned with a newfound calmness like the storm had finally passed. The other dancers looked on in concern, waiting for the situation to resolve itself.

Abby interrupted their thoughts with her commanding voice, effectively catching everyone's attention. "Listen up, everyone! I've made a decision about the final dance routine, and it requires Maddie and Ethan to share a kiss during the performance. The dance simply won't work without it!"

She zeroed in on Ethan, addressing him directly. "Ethan, I'm counting on you to embrace this pivotal moment for the sake of our performance. You cannot refuse me this time."

Ethan's face flushed with anger and embarrassment as he struggled to maintain his composure. Not wanting to cause further conflict, he didn't voice his grievances aloud; instead, he opted to remove himself from the situation entirely.

"I need a minute," he muttered before rushing into the nearest bathroom. Luckily for him, the reality show's camera crew couldn't follow him into such personal spaces.

Once Ethan locked himself inside a stall for privacy, he dialed Kalani's number with trembling fingers. As soon as she answered, he launched into an explanation of what was happening at that moment in tears.

"Kalani," he choked out, "Abby's forcing me to kiss Maddie during our dance routine at tomorrow's competition. I-I don't think I can do it."

Taken aback by his vulnerability but also finding amusement in his predicament, Kalani assured him that his loyalty wasn't in question. "Oh, Ethan." She giggled lightly before continuing. "I trust you completely; I know your loyalty lies with me. In fact, now I'm definitely coming to the competition to see this unfold."

Ethan's relief was mixed with a lingering sense of unease. Even though he knew Kalani trusted him, he couldn't shake his feelings of discomfort surrounding the forced kiss. However, if it meant their dance team could win, he couldn't afford to mess it up.

Forcing back her sobs, Maddie listened as Abby laid down the law to Ethan. "You have to do this," she demanded fiercely. "You'll kiss her during the performance, or you'll be cut from the team."

Despite Maddie's hurt feelings, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Just one kiss… maybe that was all it would take for Ethan to see her in a different light. Even though he clearly wasn't attracted to her, there was still a chance for things to change once their lips met.

Brooke, on the other hand, couldn't bear the thought of watching such an intimate moment and excused herself from the room. "I can't do this," she choked out, leaving Maddie and Ethan alone with Abby and their growing anxiety.

Undeterred, Abby continued drilling them on their upcoming dance duet. For two solid hours, Maddie and Ethan practiced their steps and lifts until they could hardly stand. Meanwhile, as they learned later, the group dance remained painfully neglected.

An icy chill filled the studio as angry mothers confronted Abby about her singular focus on Maddie and Ethan's dance number. Cold fury flashed in Abby's eyes as their voices grew louder and more heated.

"You've ignored our children for far too long!" one mother screeched. "Why are you so obsessed with this duet? It isn't even your damn business who Ethan kisses!"

Abby unleashed her fury on them in response. "Shut up!" she roared. "If you don't like my methods, take your kids and go. But if you stay here, it's my way or the highway. Now, back to dance jail with you!"

As the mothers retreated to their designated dance jail, Maddie and Ethan exchanged weary glances. Their hearts were heavy with the knowledge that their next performance would change the course of their lives.

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